Hard times are now a reminder to me that God loves me. Through these difficulties, he is giving me opportunities to develop and express my faith. Life is hard. But I have learned that life is hard because God loves me. On my mission in Malaysia, my companion and I… Continue reading
“It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God.” —Joseph Smith In “The Character of Christ,” Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles describes an experience he had years earlier while serving as a stake president. He was… Continue reading
By using “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” as our standard, we can see how far off-center the world’s idea of marriage has become, how it got there, and how we need to define marriage today. A judicial system has to balance social and individual interests—the good of the… Continue reading
In the current turbulent discussions surrounding marriage, it can be pretty hard to know what that relationship should really look like. Fortunately, we can look to the temple. With so many models of marriage being proposed today, it can be hard for any of us to understand what an ideal… Continue reading
Waiting until marriage to have sex will improve your relationship. Popular culture in television, music, literature, and art glorifies casual sex and sends the message that it is fun and satisfying to have an intimate relationship with someone before marriage. However, religion and social science studies make stronger arguments that… Continue reading
When depression feels like it is taking over, faith can make our trials worth it. I could see sympathy in the doctor’s eyes as she explained to me, “It’s not uncommon for the medication to not only heighten your symptoms of anxiety and depression, but also to hinder the effectiveness… Continue reading
Although we might prefer our lives be as neat and cozy as a duck pond in a manicured garden, we must navigate the wilderness of uncertainty guided by the Spirit if we are to discover our personal promised lands. While hurrying home one October day, I was struck by the… Continue reading
For those who have been wounded in the trap of pornography, there is hope for healing, no matter how serious the injury. The word “pornography” is often associated with addiction. Pornography addiction is a serious and real problem. However, “addiction” doesn’t necessarily describe every user, and the term shouldn’t be… Continue reading
The things I thought were failures in my life were actually my best opportunities to grow—and God didn’t love me any less for them. We all have those moments when something we have heard our entire lives finally clicks, really sinking into our minds and hearts. I had that… Continue reading
We often feel like there’s no time for meaningful scripture study. Even when there is time, we may be lost as to how to make the most of it. Joseph Fielding McConkie—son of Bruce R. McConkie, grandson of Joseph Fielding Smith, and longtime professor of ancient scripture at BYU—tells of… Continue reading
